146.40(4g)(a)2.b.
b. A hearing officer finds reasonable cause to believe that the individual performed an action alleged under
sub. (4r) (a).
146.40(4g)(a)3.
3. Findings of the department under
sub. (4r) (b) or of the hearing officer under
sub. (4r) (d) concerning the neglect, abuse or misappropriation of property by an individual listed under
subd. 2.
146.40(4g)(a)4.
4. A brief statement, if any, of an individual about whom the department is notified under
sub. (4) and who disputes the department's findings under
sub. (4r) (b) or the hearing officer's findings under
sub. (4r) (d).
146.40(4g)(b)
(b) The department shall provide, upon receipt of a specific, written request, information requested that is contained in the registry under
par. (a).
146.40(4m)
(4m) An instructional and competency evaluation program under
sub. (3) for which the department has suspended or revoked certification or imposed a plan of correction or a competency evaluation program under
sub. (3m) for which the department has suspended or revoked approval or imposed a plan of correction may contest the department's action by sending, within 10 days after receipt of notice of the contested action, a written request for hearing under
s. 227.44 to the division of hearings and appeals created under
s. 15.103 (1). The administrator of the division may designate a hearing examiner to preside over the case and recommend a decision to the administrator under
s. 227.46. The decision of the administrator of the division shall be the final administrative decision. The division shall commence the hearing within 30 days after receipt of the request for hearing and shall issue a final decision within 15 days after the close of the hearing. Proceedings before the division are governed by
ch. 227. In any petition for judicial review of a decision by the division, the party, other than the petitioner, who was in the proceeding before the division shall be the named respondent.
146.40(4r)(a)(a) Any individual may report to the department that he or she believes that a nurse's assistant has neglected, abused or misappropriated the property of a nursing home resident or a hospital patient or that a home health aide has neglected, abused or misappropriated the property of a home health agency patient.
146.40(4r)(b)
(b) The department shall review and investigate any report received under
par. (a) and, if the allegation is substantiated, make specific, documented findings concerning the neglect, abuse or misappropriation of property. The department shall in writing by certified mail notify the nurse's assistant or home health aide specified in the report that his or her name and the department's findings about him or her shall be listed in the registry under
sub. (4g) (a) 2. and
3. unless he or she contests the listings in a hearing before the department. The written notification shall describe the investigation conducted by the department, enumerate the findings alleging neglect, abuse or misappropriation of property of a nursing home resident or home health agency patient and explain the consequence to the nurse's assistant or home health aide of waiving a hearing to contest the findings. The nurse's assistant or home health aide named in the report shall have 30 days after receipt of the notification to indicate to the department in writing whether he or she intends to contest the listing or to waive the hearing.
146.40(4r)(c)
(c) If the nurse's assistant or home health aide under
par. (b) notifies the department that he or she waives a hearing to contest the listings in the registry under
par. (b), or fails to notify the department within 30 days after receipt of a notice under
par. (b), the department shall enter the name of the individual under
sub. (4g) (a) 2. and the department's findings about the individual under
sub. (4g) (a) 3.
146.40(4r)(d)
(d) If the nurse's assistant or home health aide under
par. (b) timely notifies the department that he or she contests the listings in the registry under
par. (b), the department shall hold a hearing under the requirements of
ch. 227. If after presentation of evidence a hearing officer finds that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the nurse's assistant or home health aide performed an action alleged under
par. (a), the hearing officer shall dismiss the proceeding. If after presentation of evidence a hearing officer finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the nurse's assistant or home health aide performed an action alleged under
par. (a), the hearing officer shall so find and shall cause the name of the nurse's assistant or home health aide to be entered under
sub. (4g) (a) 2. and the hearing officer's findings about the nurse's assistant or home health aide to be entered under
sub. (4g) (a) 3.
146.40(4r)(e)
(e) The nurse's assistant or home health aide may provide the department with a brief statement disputing the department's findings under
par. (b) or the hearing officer's findings under
par. (d) and, if so provided, the department shall enter the statement under
sub. (4g) (a) 4.
146.40(5)(a)(a) The department, in consultation with the technical college system board, shall promulgate rules specifying standards for certification in this state of instructional and competency evaluation programs for nurse's assistants, home health aides and hospice aides. The standards shall include specialized training in providing care to individuals with special needs.
146.40(5)(b)
(b) The department shall promulgate rules specifying criteria for acceptance by this state of an instructional and competency evaluation program or a competency evaluation program that is certified in another state, including whether the other state grants nurse's assistant privileges, home health aide privileges or hospice aide privileges to persons who have completed instruction in an instructional and competency evaluation program that is certified under
sub. (3) and whether one of the following is true:
146.40(5)(b)1.
1. If the other state certifies instructional and competency evaluation programs for nurse's assistants, home health aides or hospice aides, the state's requirements are substantially similar, as determined by the department, to certification requirements in this state.
146.40(5)(b)2.
2. If the other state certifies nurse's assistants, home health aides or hospice aides, that state's requirements are such that one of the following applies:
146.40(5)(b)2.a.
a. The instructional and competency evaluation programs required for attendance by persons receiving certificates are substantially similar, as determined by the department, to instructional and competency evaluation programs certified under
sub. (3).
146.40(5)(b)2.b.
b. The competency evaluation programs required for successful completion by persons receiving certificates are substantially similar, as determined by the department, to competency evaluation programs approved under
sub. (3m).
146.40(6)
(6) Any person who violates
sub. (2) shall forfeit not more than $1,000.
146.40(7)
(7) This section does not apply to a hospice that receives no federal or state moneys for any purpose.
146.40 Annotation
Sub. (4r) provides for a hearing examiner to make a determination of abuse. That determination is the final agency determination. Kennedy v. DHSS, 199 W (2d) 442, 544 NW (2d) 917 (Ct. App. 1996).
146.50
146.50
Emergency medical services personnel; licensure; certification; training. 146.50(1)(a)
(a) "Ambulance" means an emergency vehicle, including any motor vehicle, boat or aircraft, whether privately or publicly owned, which is designed, constructed or equipped to transport sick, disabled or injured individuals.
146.50(1)(c)
(c) "Ambulance service provider" means a person engaged in the business of transporting sick, disabled or injured individuals by ambulance to or from facilities or institutions providing health services.
146.50(1)(cm)
(cm) "Automatic defibrillator" means a heart monitor and defibrillator that:
146.50(1)(cm)1.
1. Is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation and rapid ventricular tachycardia and determining, without intervention by an operator, whether defibrillation should be performed;
146.50(1)(cm)2.
2. Upon determining that defibrillation should be performed, either automatically charges and delivers an electrical impulse to an individual's heart or charges and delivers the electrical impulse at the command of the operator; and
146.50(1)(cm)3.
3. In the case of a defibrillator that may be operated in either an automatic or a manual mode, is set to operate in the automatic mode.
146.50(1)(d)
(d) "Basic life support" means emergency medical care that is rendered to a sick, disabled or injured individual, based on signs, symptoms or complaints, prior to the individual's hospitalization or while transporting the individual between health care facilities and that is limited to use of the knowledge, skills and techniques received from training required for licensure as an emergency medical technician—basic.
146.50(1)(dm)
(dm) "Defibrillation" means administering an electrical impulse to an individual's heart in order to stop ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia.
146.50(1)(e)
(e) "Emergency medical technician" means an emergency medical technician—basic, an emergency medical technician—intermediate or an emergency medical technician—paramedic.
146.50(1)(f)
(f) "Emergency medical technician—basic" means an individual who is licensed by the department to administer basic life support and to properly handle and transport sick, disabled or injured individuals.
146.50(1)(g)
(g) "Emergency medical technician—intermediate" means an individual who is licensed by the department as an emergency medical technician—intermediate under
sub. (5).
146.50(1)(h)
(h) "Emergency medical technician—paramedic" means an individual who is specially trained in emergency cardiac, trauma and other lifesaving or emergency procedures in a training program or course of instruction prescribed by the department and who is examined and licensed as an emergency medical technician—paramedic under
sub. (5).
146.50(1)(hm)
(hm) "First responder—defibrillation" means an individual who is certified by the department as a first responder—defibrillation under
sub. (8).
146.50(1)(i)
(i) "Indian tribe" means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.
146.50(1)(im)
(im) "Manual defibrillator" means a heart monitor and defibrillator that:
146.50(1)(im)1.
1. Is operated only after an operator has first analyzed and recognized an individual's cardiac rhythm;
146.50(1)(im)2.
2. Charges and delivers, only at the command of the operator, an electrical impulse to an individual's heart; and
146.50(1)(im)3.
3. In the case of a defibrillator that may be operated in either an automatic or a manual mode, is set to operate in the manual mode.
146.50(1)(j)
(j) "Medical director" means a physician who trains, medically coordinates, directs, supervises, establishes standard operating procedures for, and designates physicians for direction and supervision of, emergency medical technicians and who reviews the performance of emergency medical technicians and ambulance service providers.
146.50(1)(k)
(k) "Nonprofit corporation" means a nonstock, nonprofit corporation organized under
ch. 181.
146.50(1)(L)
(L) "Person" includes an individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, trust, foundation, company, public agency or a group of individuals, however named, concerned with the operation of an ambulance.
146.50(1)(n)
(n) "Public agency" means this state, a county, city, village or town; an agency of this state or of a county, city, village or town; or an Indian tribe.
146.50(1)(o)
(o) "Semiautomatic defibrillator" means a heart monitor and defibrillator that:
146.50(1)(o)1.
1. Is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia and determining, without intervention by an operator, whether defibrillation should be performed; and
146.50(1)(o)2.
2. Charges and, at the command of the operator, delivers an electrical impulse to an individual's heart.
146.50(1)(p)
(p) "Ventricular fibrillation" means a disturbance in the normal rhythm of the heart that is characterized by rapid, irregular and ineffective twitching of the ventricles of the heart.
146.50(2)
(2) License or certificate required. No person may act as or advertise for the provision of services as an ambulance service provider unless the person holds an ambulance service provider license issued under this section. No individual may act as or advertise for the provision of services as an emergency medical technician unless he or she holds an emergency medical technician license or training permit issued under
sub. (5). No individual may act as or advertise for the provision of services as a first responder—defibrillation unless he or she holds a first responder—defibrillation certificate issued under
sub. (8).
146.50(3)
(3) Exception to treatment. This section and the rules promulgated under this section may not be construed to authorize the provision of services or treatment to any individual who objects for reasons of religion to the treatment or services, but may be construed to authorize the transportation of such an individual to a facility of the individual's choice within the jurisdiction of the emergency medical service.
146.50(4)
(4) Ambulance staffing; limitations; rules. 146.50(4)(a)(a) If a sick, disabled or injured individual is transported by ambulance, the following other individuals shall be present in the ambulance:
146.50(4)(a)1.
1. Any 2 emergency medical technicians, licensed registered nurses, licensed physician assistants or physicians, or any combination thereof; or
146.50(4)(a)2.
2. One emergency medical technician plus one individual with a training permit issued under
sub. (5) (b).
146.50(4)(b)
(b) An ambulance driver who is not an emergency medical technician may assist with the handling and movement of a sick, injured or disabled individual if an emergency medical technician, registered nurse, physician assistant or physician directly supervises the driver. No ambulance driver may administer care procedures that an emergency medical technician is authorized to administer unless he or she is an emergency medical technician.
146.50(4)(c)
(c) Notwithstanding
par. (a), the department may promulgate rules that establish standards for staffing of ambulances in which the primary services provided are those which an emergency medical technician—intermediate is authorized to provide or those which an emergency medical technician—paramedic is authorized to provide.
146.50(5)
(5) Licensing of ambulance service providers and emergency medical technicians; training permits. 146.50(5)(a)(a) The department shall license qualified applicants as ambulance service providers or emergency medical technicians. The department shall, from the information on the certification form specified under
sub. (6) (c) 2., establish in each ambulance service provider's biennial license the primary service or contract area of the ambulance service provider.
146.50(5)(b)
(b) The department shall promulgate rules establishing a system and qualifications for issuance of training permits and specifying the period for which an individual may hold a training permit.
146.50(5)(c)
(c) A training permit application shall be signed by an ambulance service provider.
146.50(5)(d)
(d) An individual who holds a training permit issued under
par. (b) may do the following:
146.50(5)(d)1.
1. If issued an emergency medical technician—basic training permit, he or she may perform the actions authorized under rules promulgated by the department for an emergency medical technician—basic, but only if an emergency medical technician directly supervises him or her.
146.50(5)(d)2.
2. If issued an emergency medical technician—intermediate training permit, he or she may perform the actions authorized under rules promulgated by the department for an emergency medical technician—intermediate, but only if a medical director or training instructor is present and giving direction.
146.50(5)(d)3.
3. If issued an emergency medical technician—paramedic training permit, he or she may perform the actions authorized under rules promulgated by the department for an emergency medical technician—paramedic, but only if a medical director or training instructor is present and giving direction.
146.50(5)(e)
(e) A license or training permit issued under this subsection is nontransferable and is valid for the balance of the license or training permit period or until surrendered for cancellation or suspended or revoked for violation of this section or of any other statutes or rules relating to ambulance service providers or emergency medical technicians.
146.50(5)(f)
(f) The department may charge a reasonable fee for a license or training permit issued under this subsection, except that no fee may be charged to an individual who is an employe of a public agency and who works for volunteer or paid-on-call ambulance service providers and who is an applicant for a license as an emergency medical technician—basic or for a training permit.
146.50(5)(g)
(g) An emergency medical technician license shall be issued to the individual licensed, and the department may not impose a requirement that an individual be affiliated with an ambulance service provider in order to receive an emergency medical technician license or to have an emergency medical technician license renewed.
146.50(6)(a)(a) To be eligible for an initial license as an emergency medical technician, an individual shall:
146.50(6)(a)1.
1. Be 18 years of age or older; be capable of performing the actions authorized in rules promulgated under
sub. (13) (c) for an emergency medical technician—basic, an emergency medical technician—intermediate or an emergency medical technician—paramedic, for which licensure is sought; and, subject to
ss. 111.321,
111.322 and
111.335, not have an arrest or conviction record.
146.50(6)(a)2.
2. Have satisfactorily completed a course of instruction and training prescribed by the department or have presented evidence satisfactory to the department of sufficient education and training in the field of emergency care.
146.50(6)(a)3.
3. Have passed an examination approved by the department.
146.50(6)(a)4.
4. Have such additional qualifications as may be required by the department.
146.50(6)(b)1.1. To be eligible for a renewal of a license as an emergency medical technician, the licensee shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of
par. (a) 1., complete the training, education or examination requirements specified in rules promulgated under
subd. 2.
146.50(6)(b)2.
2. The department, in conjunction with the technical college system board, shall promulgate rules specifying training, education or examination requirements for license renewals for emergency medical technicians.
146.50(6)(c)
(c) To be eligible for a license as an ambulance service provider, an individual shall be 18 years of age or older and have such additional qualifications as may be established in rules promulgated by the department, except that no ambulance service provider may be required to take training or an examination or receive education to qualify for licensure or for renewal of licensure. An ambulance service provider shall, as a condition of licensure, provide medical malpractice insurance sufficient to protect all emergency medical technicians who perform for compensation as employes of the ambulance service provider. For renewal of a biennial license as an ambulance service provider, an applicant shall also provide all of the following:
146.50(6)(c)1.
1. A financial report, on a form developed and provided by the department, of all expenditures made in the 2 previous fiscal years from all funds provided to the ambulance service provider under
s. 146.55 (4).
146.50(6)(c)2.
2. Certification, on a form developed and provided by the department, signed by a representative of the ambulance service provider and the clerk of each county, city, town or village served by the ambulance service provider, of the population and boundaries of the ambulance service provider's primary service or contract area in that county, city, town or village.
146.50(6g)
(6g) Certification for performance of defibrillation. 146.50(6g)(a)(a) The department shall certify qualified applicants for the performance of defibrillation, under certification standards that the department shall promulgate as rules.
146.50(6g)(b)
(b) A certificate issued under this subsection shall specify whether the holder of the certificate is authorized to perform defibrillation by use of any of the following:
